The Government of the Northwest Territories maintains water monitoring stations across the territory to keep track of water levels and flow rates in areas of potential flood risk for communities.

This information is provided regularly to territorial and regional emergency managers to help understand the status of waterways across the NWT in the lead-up to, and during spring break-up – the highest-risk period for floods in the Northwest Territories.

Technical data

• Water monitoring technical bulletin – May 26, 2022 

 

Current status - NWT

• According to local reports, the ice jam on the Mackenzie River appears to has released at Tsiigehtchic, and latest information suggests that the head (upstream end) of the ice jam is now at Point Separation;
  • Ice and water from the large jam are expected to have moved downstream and into the Delta;
  • Gauges, photos, and satellite imagery will continue to be monitored, as available, to track the progression of the ice front.
• Water levels under ice continue to increase in the Mackenzie River Delta, at normal rates for this time of year;
  • Water levels at Aklavik are at 13.9 m (maximum from last year was 15.539 m);
  • Water levels at Inuvik are 15.2 m (maximum from last year was 15.561 m);
• Ice has impacted the hydrometric gauge on the Mackenzie River (Middle Channel) below Raymond Channel and data are not currently available.

 

Peel River and Beaufort Delta

Above – Mackenzie River at Arctic Red River hydrometric gauge photo from May 26 at 11:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.

 

Above – Peel River at Fort McPherson hydrometric gauge photo from May 26 at 12:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.

 

Above – Mackenzie River above Aklavik hydrometric gauge photo from May 24 at 14:00. Photo courtesy of Water Survey of Canada and GNWT.